Federer Targets Return On Clay, Possibly Farewell On Clay?

by Tom Gainey | January 20th, 2019, 11:12 pm
  • 5 Comments

Following his loss last night to Stefanos Tsitsipas, Roger Federer told the European media clay is likely in his future this year.

After completely skipping the last two years, Federer sounds intent on returning to the surface for the first time since 2016 Rome.

“It’s a bit of a desire. I’m in a phase where I want to have fun and I’ve missed not doing it,” said Federer


“I don’t feel it is necessary to have a big break again.”

Federer of course won the French Open in 2009, so this would also be the 10-year anniversary of that achievement.

And could this part of a “farewell tour” for Federer?


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5 Comments for Federer Targets Return On Clay, Possibly Farewell On Clay?

RZ Says:

I think a big factor in Fed’s decision is wanting to keep his ranking high enough for a decent seeding at Masters and Slams tournaments. Last year’s AO was keeping his ranking in the top 3 but he is going to drop down to #6 or #7 now.


lyenubbins Says:

Man that’s going to be sad when he retires.


lylenubbins Says:

Man, that’s going to be sad when Fed retires.


j-kath Says:

RZ:

Wow….Roger dropping to No. 6 or 7 – it’s not that he played badly – but not a positive for his next GS which is the French which I understand he intends to play this year – and is possibly his least likely GS to win. Ah well – c’est la vie.


chrisford1 Says:

Federer was the 3rd best clay court player in his era. Clay is his home as much as grass or hardcourt is. It is just that Rafa was better on clay and pretty much owned Roger on that surface, while Djokovic has a slightly better clay record than Roger and Rafa doesn’t own Nole on any surface.

But Fed can play clay well and beat anyone not named Nadal. Even Djokovic went down to Fed in his record-shattering 2011 year because Fed played his A+ game and Novak his A- game. There isn’t much difference between the two players in clay success aside from their Rafa on clay results, and what Rafa and Uncle Toni said about Djokovic being the only player they feared on clay. .

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